Torn Between Worlds

The approaching day carried the weight of revelations, promising to unveil many mysteries that lingered in the air. As the clock neared 10:00 am, Achara embarked on a crucial journey to the office, poised to share everything with her brother. In the morning light, Ms. Nin offered a greeting, "Good morning, Achara," but received no response as Achara silently departed, leaving behind a muttered observation from Ms. Nin, "The brother and sister are both the same."Directed by a determined purpose, Achara instructed the driver to take her to the office. In the meeting room, Stranger engaged in professional discussions, unaware of the impending revelation. Achara quietly settled into Stranger's cabin, mindful not to disrupt his work. After about 15 minutes, Shian, Fah (the financial manager at Lava's place), and Stranger entered the cabin. Spotting Achara, Stranger's face lit up with happiness. "Achara, what are you doing?"In response, Achara embraced her brother and revealed, "I have something very important to tell you." Seated at his desk, Stranger, engaged in signing documents presented by Fah, inquired further, "What? Tell me!"A moment of hesitation hung in the air as Achara contemplated her next words. Before she could speak, Stranger, anticipating a different topic, interjected, "Do you want to go to Paris? I already told you I won't send you alone anywhere. Next month, I have a business tour in Paris. Then I will take you with me!"In the hushed ambiance of the room, Stranger's attention remained fixed on the scattered documents before him. The familial bond between him and Shian was evident, a testament to the care shared among the siblings. Witnessing this, Fah couldn't help but smile. Yet, the atmosphere took a swift turn when Achara, her heart pounding with urgency, interjected."No, I have something more important to tell you," she declared, her words hanging in the charged air.Promptly, Stranger inquired, "Tell me.""Alone," Achara insisted, her gaze unwavering.Recognizing the gravity of the matter at hand, Stranger gestured for Fah and Shian to vacate the room, leaving him alone with Achara. His eyes, previously immersed in the documents, now focused on her, awaiting an explanation.Achara broached the delicate topic. "P.Nil."At the mention of that name, Stranger closed the documents, fixing his gaze on Achara. "Why are you taking his name?" he queried, a hint of guarded curiosity in his tone."He didn't leave you willingly," Achara asserted, her words carrying a weighty significance."I have no interest..." Stranger's swift response. "I don't even want to know why he left. Don't want to know how he's doing."Achara, undeterred, pressed on. "Brother, you can lie to everyone but not to me. If you don't care about him, why did you stop Mew from taking legal action against Nil? You shouldn't bother then."The truth lingered unspoken between them. Achara ventured further, her gaze steady. "Brother, you love him."Stranger, attempting to dismiss the claim, stated, "It was just a mistake.""No, it wasn't," Achara countered, conviction in her voice.Struggling against the revelation, Stranger asserted, "Don't you want me to move on?""I want, but not like this," Achara replied earnestly. "You're forcing yourself, challenging the idea that you can be happy even without P.Nil beside you.""Enough," Stranger declared, cutting through the tension, leaving the room steeped in unspoken emotions.Achara persistently implored, "Ms. Nin repeatedly urged P. Nil to step away, showing him an old interview of yours where you expressed your desire for marriage and children."Stranger, his countenance impassive and rigid, appeared untouched by anything related to Nil.Achara added, "He only sought your happiness. He believed he was jeopardizing your life."Stranger queried, "So because Ms. Nin told him all this, he left? What about me, who tirelessly professed my love day and night? I conveyed my deep affection, and my longing to be with him. I told him he was indispensable to me, the joy of my life, yet he didn't even confront me about what I truly desired.""And, in the end, he believed Ms. Nin."Achara remained silent.Stranger pressed on, "Achara, are you implying it's my fault? For not convincing him of my love? Or is it Nil's fault for never trusting me? Or perhaps Ms. Nin, who harbors a desire to be a grandmother?""Now, I discover everything was built on lies."Achara maintained her silence.Stranger sighed, "And, Achara, you're right. I loved him and will continue to love him until my last breath. But now, my feelings no longer matter.""I refuse to let my personal emotions burden my social life and you as well."Achara, seemingly convinced by her brother's stance, concurred, "I agree with you.""Nil aspired to be a BL actor, so he fled his country to fulfill his lifelong dream. But when faced with choosing between his aspirations and you, he chose himself. He wanted you to be a whole man, failing to realize that without him, you are incomplete, brother.""Only Nil completes Stranger."Stranger sighed deeply.Achara acknowledged, "I understand he made a wrong decision, but love is complex.""But you can't deny that he truly loves you and isn't afraid of anything."Achara silently slipped away, whispering to herself in the solitude, "I'm uncertain about my brother's decision, but I will always support him." Outside, she waited, grappling with the weight of the unknown.Meanwhile, Nil immersed himself in the glow of the computer screen, navigating through the realm of part-time job possibilities. In the midst of his search, he stumbled upon an article that pierced his heart: "Famous music composer Kao Neptune dating Daow Somchai, daughter of billionaire Mr. Somchai." The images showcased intimate moments, a shared table, and a journey toward a car. Nil's trembling finger betrayed the storm within, his eyes welling up. With a sad, fractured smile, he whispered to himself, "I should be happy; finally, Stranger is moving on. Is this what I've yearned for all along?"But the tears refused to be contained, falling unabated onto the desk. In that vulnerable moment, his 12-year-old cousin's brother entered, catching sight of the glistening trails on Nil's face. Filled with concern, the young one asked, "Brother, why are you crying?"Awakening from his emotional stupor, Nil brushed away the evidence and replied, "I wasn't crying. The excess light from the computer screen made my eyes watery," a false smile masking the pain and jealousy he sought to bury within.In the late hours of the night, the absence of Stranger cast a veil of tension upon Achara. Filled with unease, she dialed his number, only to be met with the hollow ring of an unreachable phone. Frustration mounting, she turned to Shian, who answered, "Yes, Achara."Desperation laced her voice as she inquired, "P.Shian, where is my brother?"Shian's response carried a perplexing revelation, "Didn't Kao tell you?"Achara, her anxiety deepening, implored, "Tell me, what happened?"Shian hesitated, then delivered the unexpected news, "As soon as you left the office, Kao booked a ticket and went to Bangladesh."The revelation struck Achara like a sudden storm. "What? How? When?" she exclaimed in shock.Shian, silent for a moment, bore witness to Achara's emotional whirlwind.In that charged moment, without further explanation, she abruptly ended the call and erupted into joyous shouts.Ms. Nin entered the room upon hearing Achara's voice, her concern evident. "Achara, what happened?"Achara's face lit up, "I'm very happy today!"Smiling, Ms. Nin prompted, "Why? Share with me!"Achara sighed, "Brother went to Bangladesh to bring Nil!"Ms. Nin's smile vanished abruptly, "But why? Does he hate him?"Achara confessed, "I overheard your conversation, and I told him everything."Ms. Nin, visibly angered, exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind?"Achara simply nodded, "Yes.""Don't you want your brother to lead a happy life?" Ms. Nin questioned with a mix of frustration and concern.Achara responded defiantly, "What I did, I have no regret for it. And if you want brother's happiness, you have to accept Nil."Ms. Nin, asserting her maternal authority, stated, "I'm your mom; I know what is best for my children. And what I did was all for the real happiness of Kao.""Life can't be lived like this. Every man has to marry a girl and have a family," Ms. Nin insisted.Achara, challenging societal norms, argued, "If your love is with you, it doesn't matter about society or any people. You could be happy anywhere you are! But maybe you never loved anyone. You just think about society and reputation. You'll never be a good mom."Unable to contain her emotions, Ms. Nin slapped Achara. The room fell into a heavy silence. Achara fled to her room, and Ms. Nin sank onto the sofa, placing a hand on her head. Tears welled in her eyes, trailing down her cheeks.